Kavos Cafe
Visitors say
We visit every year and it never disappoints. Food excellent, service very good, and magnificent views.
Beautiful scenery, great buffalo ice cream, beautiful works of art inside and outside!!
About
Kavos Cafe sits in one of the most atmospheric corners of Lesvos, perched at the edge of Skala Sykamineas, the tiny fishing harbour that inspired Stratis Myrivilis to write his beloved novel The Mermaid Madonna. The village is among the most unspoiled on the island, its colourful wooden caiques still tied up beneath the mulberry trees, and Kavos — whose name means cape or promontory in Greek — occupies a privileged spot where the Aegean stretches out toward the Turkish coastline to the north. It is the kind of cafe that feels rooted in its place, a natural pause point after the winding road down from the hillside village of Sykaminia above.
Visitors come here for Greek coffee, cold frappes, fresh juices, and simple refreshments served at a pace that matches the unhurried rhythm of the harbour. The setting does much of the work: fishing nets, salt air, the gentle knock of boats against the dock, and views that shift with the light throughout the day. Whether you stop in the cool of the morning before exploring the coast or linger into the late afternoon as the sun drops over the water, Kavos offers the kind of uncomplicated pleasure that defines the best of Greek cafe culture.
For travellers making their way along Lesvos's northern coastal route, Skala Sykamineas is unmissable, and Kavos Cafe provides the ideal excuse to slow down and absorb it properly. It is the sort of place where a single coffee can stretch into an hour without any sense of waste — surrounded by genuine village life, authentic scenery, and the quiet drama of one of the Aegean's most storied shorelines.
Before you go
What to expect
You sit just meters from the water, with wooden caiques bobbing directly in front of you and the Turkish coastline visible across the narrow strait on clear days. The pace is set by the harbor itself — unhurried, quiet, broken only by gulls and the creak of mooring ropes. Order a Greek coffee or a frappe and let the morning or afternoon unfold around you without agenda.
Best time to visit
Late April through early September is ideal; the northern exposure keeps a pleasant breeze coming even when the rest of the island swelters in July and August.
How to get there
From Mytilene, head north toward Kalloni then continue along the northern coastal road — the drive takes roughly an hour to an hour and a half. Follow the signs down from the hilltop village of Sykaminia; the final descent is steep and narrow but leads directly to the harbor.
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Visitor Reviews
Jeffrey
October 2025
Nice place, seats nearby the sea with sight on Turkey.
Ioannis Doukakis
July 2025
The place is great to relax and drink your coffee, especially in the back yard. The parrot that the owners have is a great attraction to the kids. You can eat snacks, ice cream and also a beer in the evening. The owners are very friendly. Update - as of summer 2022 the parrot is deceased. It was a landmark for tens of years... Hope that it will be replaced soon.
Philip Kenyon
May 2025
We visit every year and it never disappoints. Food excellent, service very good, and magnificent views.
Antonios Liamis
April 2024
Very nice place with a good atmosphere next to the sea. Food and drink options are very good as well. Service is always friendly, fast and open for a joke. Plenty of free street parking on the left hand side of the harbour. I can only recommend this place. Make sure to check out the inside space as well as the space behind the store itself.
Magdalena Heimfarth-Gallasch
June 2023
Super Location! Best Crepes! Friendly stuff! Nice view! Love it!
Michele P
September 2022
Lovely little cafe/bar right on the harbour front, a great place to while the time away, people watch, listen to the sea.
Chrysoula Rizava
August 2022
A very nice little cafe situated in one of the corners of the very picturesque port called Skala Sykaminea. We went there three times during our stay in Sykaminea. You can sit at the front of the cafe with a really nice view of the little port with the boats the taverns and the church. We opted to sit in the back garden where you can find nice shade in the hot summer days. The place is offering very nice coffees, cold espresso and cappuccino. We also tried the tosts, the savoury crêpes and the omelettes. There isn't a great variety bit all the ingredients are very fresh and the taste is excellent! Finally we tried the ice cream which was fabulous. There are board games for the whole family. Lots of kids playing around. A very family friendly place.
ΣΟΦΙΑ ΝΑΣΙΟΥ
September 2021
Beautiful scenery, great buffalo ice cream, beautiful works of art inside and outside!!
Sven Vandermaas
June 2019
A real traditional Greek fishing village with a small port and a few restaurants. A must to visit when you are in Lesvos. Real friendly people here and make sure to have a look in the back. They have a beautiful parrot sitting there. While entering this village, be aware of the town fool. It’s an older man dressed up in a wedding dress !!
George Vallahis
August 2018
A great location with an amazing view. The cafe really does provide a one of a kind scene and the coffee and food is obviously high standard greek food. This is a very good spot for familys or large groups looking for a secret and quite spot to relax at. Fun fact is that if you look just over the sea you can see the neughbouring country turkey.
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